TEEN MEMO

In the second year of Eucharia's marriage to her loving and caring spouse, Leonard Rogers (a middle-aged businessman who was financially well-off), Eucharia took in. She was delighted to the core that motherhood was knocking at her door, waiting for a response. Her friends and family couldn't express the joy they felt on learning that Eucharia was heavy and would soon have a baby. * * * * * Unfortunately, Eucharia's baby had a premature birth due to an infection that Eucharia contracted during her childhood years; the infection showed no symptoms which made Eucharia oblivious about it that she didn't treat it on time. Three days after her the delivery of a son, he died owing of numerous complications which were rooted back to the onset of Eucharia's pregnancy. Eucharia found it difficult to bear the loss of her son; she went off rails because the death of her newborn baby was a sudden but unexpected one. She was deeply hurt on the inside and it was obvious on the outside. Leonard tried everything he could do to make her happy but his chances of making her delighted were slim; Eucharia was tearsome, always expressing her emotions in tears. She was overly emotional and barely possessed emotional intelligence. Her sobriety was also expressed in her actions because she could sit for hours sobering. She had frequent mood swings, discomfort and depression. Her doleful moment often worsened whenever she saw other parents either going for school runs or going on a family outing with their kids. Leonard, unable to detect if her problem was only the loss of her baby or if it was something else, visited the gynaecologist at the city hospital and told her about his wife's condition. "Her frequent mood swings is caused by hormonal changes which occurred in her body after delivery. Levels of estrogen and progesterone needed during her pregnancy suddenly dropped, causing a shift in her mood." the gynaecologist said, with much expertise. "I wish I could instantly draw the line of her problems. I feel hurt whenever I see her in such a terrible condition." Leonard said, expressing empathy for his wife. "Mr Leonard, don't get yourself worked up about your wife's prevalent condition. It's normal for a woman to have baby blues especially when it's her first child. She would be fine in no time." Doctor Kamara Murray admonished, speaking with eloquence and talking from experience. "Baby blues? What's baby blues? Is it the same as Postpartum... Postpartum depression?" Leonard asked inquisitively. "Well . . . baby blues is a less severe form of postnatal or postpartum depression. Baby blues is a feeling of sadness or moodiness that women experience after putting to bed that is, giving birth to a baby while Postpartum Depression is the depression suffered by a mother following childbirth arising from the combination of hormonal changes, physiological adjustment to motherhood and fatigue. Most times, it starts from pregnancy and could last for over one year after childbirth. For how long has it been since you wife put to bed?" The doctor asked. "It's almost getting to two months since she gave birth and lost the baby." Leonard said, speaking in a meticulous and worrisome tone. "How sad! From the look of things, your wife's condition may have graduated from baby blues to postpartum depression." The female doctor said with a conspicuous feeling of empathy. "What? How is that possible?" Leonard, curious for a second time asked. "Well, for most women, their baby blues go away in three to five (3-5) days after childbirth but if her baby blues doesn't go away and she feels sad, hopeless or empty for longer than two weeks, she may have developed postpartum depression." "So, doctor what can I do to save my helpless wife?" Leonard asked hastily, as if the world were after him. "Well . . . I can suggest a few solutions to control your wife's severe baby blues and aid her recovery quickly. Firstly, ensure that she takes enough rest and sleeps as much as she can, she should get used to eating nutritious meals and balanced diet, especially fresh fruits and veggies. Help her get out of her comfort zone and let her get exposed to the outside world, ensure that she surrounds herself with friends who can share good advice and keep her happy when you aren't available. Secondly, encourage her to do the things she love and finds pleasure in. The last tip goes directly to you." The expert gynaecologist doctor tipped in. "I'd do anything required, just tell me what it is I have to do." He spoke quickly, his words rushing out unknowingly, as if the world were pursuing him again. "Well . . .You have to boost a strong and unbreakable bond with your wife. Make her feel comfortable; be the best person she can confide in; Understand her and know that this phase would soon be over for her. Be the best husband and man that she could ever think of." The doctor concluded. "Is that all?" "For now, yes but if there is any strange unchanging condition, do well to seek medical help and assistance." The female doctor answered. "Thank you doctor Murray. Words can't express how exhilarated I am for speaking with you despite your busy schedule. I know you had to squeeze out time for this brief meeting to take place. Thank you for making this meeting work. I am grateful and my wife at home will also be grateful." He told her. "It's nothing really. I'm only doing my job. Besides, gynaecology is my specialty." They conversed for few more minutes before Leonard took his leave, Dr Kamara Murray, sending her regards to Eucharia. Leonard employed all the devices that the expert gynaecologist suggested to him and it was working gradually; it was a curative measure. Each day called for improvement. While returning from work every evening, Leonard made it a point of duty to buy something special and valuable for his wife. They watched movies together, ate together and laughed at silly jokes. Their bond became stronger than ever before. In time, Eucharia started loosening her moody mindset and forgetting her lost baby. Eucharia was finally able to pull herself together. She believed that everything would be fine, sooner or later. As days multiplied into weeks, weeks turned into months and months into years, three years had passed by all of a sudden. Leonard and Eucharia realized that it had been three years since they lost their first fruit. In the third month of her marriage alliance with Leonard, Eucharia realized that she had a bun in her oven; she was pregnant yet again. Words couldn't express how grateful and delighted she was from the outset of her second pregnancy. She regained herself and her moods were frequently bright and joyful. She was always beaming with smiles but she didn't know if her second child would live. Full of positive mindset every now and then, Eucharia ensured that she discarded every negative feelings she had about her unborn baby even when she found it difficult to do so. Leonard adopted a regular routine of praying every morning that Eucharia's unborn child would be safe and sound, at least for the mother, so that she wouldn't lose her sanity and coordination a second time. Eucharia on her part could do nothing but pray that God will bless her child with long life; she would live for her loved ones who value and appreciate her, and that she would be a wonderful blessing in disguise when she gets older. * * * * * It was a premature birth... A second time!! Eucharia's baby had a premature birth, not because of the infection she treated after the death of her first baby but because of the premature birth her first baby had. The new born baby girl was born two weeks before the thirty seventh (37th) week of her actual birth. She was as light as a feather weighing only one point zero kilograms (1.0 kg); a very low birth weight as at the time she was brought into the world. She was kept in an incubator or a humidicrib because of her premature birth, difficulty in breathing and low bright weight The temperature mild humidicrib / incubator provided additional time for her to develop her lungs and other vital organs in her fragile body. It also served as an additional equipment to evaluate and treat sick neonates like her; Eucharia's baby girl... Eucharia and Leonard formed the habit of praying every morning and night, numerous times a day so that their baby would live and of course in three weeks of her birth, the baby girl was discharged from the hospital. Leonard and Eucharia glorified God having heard their cry for help. Eucharia finally welcomed motherhood to be with her. On leaving the hospital, Dr. Kamara Murray summoned the couple to her office in order to have a brief word with them. She advised; "I know that you both may have planned to have more than just this one child or even just this one, I have no idea but my simple but weighty piece of advice would be of your own good or best interest. It may sound somehow but it will help you. Mrs Eucharia Rogers, It would be of your own good if you avoid conceiving again. Your newborn baby here escaped death by the skin of her teeth; narrowly and barely. Trying to conceive again would be at a great risk for your foetus and you, the mother as well, it could even lead to sudden death." She said, taking a deep breath. She continued; "The best thing you both can do as new parents is to take proper and adequate care of your daughter here; she has become your responsibility and of course, a blessing to you. Ensure that you shower unending and real love on her; give her nutritional meals and ensure that her drugs aren't skipped and the dosage is properly measured. Sleep and rest shouldn't be deprived from her." Concluding, she said; "Finally, never let her do any sort of work that is beyond the maximum power her strength can carry because doing so might break her down and more complications may set in in her life. Ensure that she is not barred from doing anything that would affect her psychologically so that she would not get ill. I'm not her parent but I'm advising you both based on my twelve years of medical experience and counting." She said authentically and formally. To be honest, the couple planned giving birth to three children but things have changed for them. They could do nothing but heed the doctor's advice. They thanked her for the piece of advice she had given them. They left the hospital and went to the pharmacy behind the hospital to buy some medications which the doctor had prescribed for both mother and baby... Since they returned home, friends, well wishers and families trooped in and out of the Rogers' home to congratulate the couple on the arrival of their cute newborn small baby girl. They all shared in the couple's joy, happiness and lightheartedness... "You finally got what you deserved." Some said the baby looked like her mum, others said her dad and a few said she bore an atom of resemblance of both her parents. The confusion stirred among the guests was finally resolved by one sentence. "As time goes on, we will find out who the baby resembles." Leonard commented as he smiled with his one sided dimple which was barely obvious. * * * * * It was a new beginning for Eucharia being the mother she had always wished to be. She wasn't just the mother to everyone but the best woman and the #1 best mother in the world to Daniella Rogers, her only daughter. Daniella's middle name was Ava meaning "Living one" because she came to stay;she didn't die like her Elder brother. Fair skinned in complexion and beautiful, Daniella had two problems; her weak immune system and her light weight. She was prone to diseases and infections because of her weak immune system due to lack of enough white blood corpuscles that fight and defend the body against diseases and infections. This made Daniella adapt to good hygiene and sanitary health. For her weight, her diet was mainly based on proteinous food intake especially fish, egg and milk. * * * * * Eight year old Daniella learned that her cousins from Florida were coming over to New Orleans so that they would meet for the first time because her cousins' parents were busy network marketers and still worked in white collar offices so they barely had time and decided to send their children to New Orleans to spend some time there. Dani designed a beautiful purple flower card for them and she wrote; Sweet cousins, I love you from my heart; Even if we haven't met before... Thanks for coming. ...... Daniella loves you. She was so dedicated to making the card that her cousins came over the day she least expected. She hugged them the moment they stepped into the house and Daniella was beaming with smiles. Olive, the female cousin was astonished on seeing Daniella. They were of the same age bracket, except that Olive was three months older than Daniella. "Why is she looking so pale, emaciated and small? I thought mum told me that she was my age mate but the girl I saw outside looked like a three year old. I didn't even feel anything the moment she hugged me. She has weak bones... I can't believe that I have such as a cousin." Olive told her elder brother, Ramsey. "Shhhh! Haven't you heard that the wall has ears? Maybe the girl was sick and then she lost a lot of weight. Who knows?" Eleven year old Ramsey says his opinion. "Well, whatever. No matter how sick I can be, I can never look pale and thin like that." Olive said, expressing disgust. Suddenly, they heard a knock on the door of the bedroom where both of them were spending their proposed two nights. "Come in!" Ramsey says. Daniella comes in with the beautiful card she made and handed it over to Ramsey. "Here, I made this welcome card for the both of you to know that I love you and I'm glad to see you." She said happily. "I would have given it to you when you both entered our house but I didn't finish it at that time." She continued. The children collected the card but didn't speak to her, so she left the room with a iconic statement "Thank you for accepting." Ramsey read the card and was thrilled. He was already liking the girl for her boldness and kind attitude, Olive would never accept her, even if there were one hundred and ninety nine good things about her. That was her nature; she's very selective...and unpredictable. "That card isn't even beautiful like the one I would make. I don't even need that cheap card made only of emboss paper and colour pencils" Olive criticised. Ramsey wasn't comfortable with the outward criticism but he didn't speak anymore. Daniella wanted to be friends and share a good rapport and amity with her cousins but it dawned to her that they shared no common interests; they literally had nothing in common apart from the fact that they were blood related as a family. "Maybe, that's how children in Florida behave." Daniella resolved as that could be the reason behind her cousins' behavior. Ramsey finally made up his mind to thank Dani for the card she took her time to make but unfortunately, his mother, Kate arrived New Orleans that same day because of Olive's incessant complaint about New Orleans. He couldn't do anything but take the card with him to Florida. "I'd thank her for this someday." He said as he put it in his carry-on. On leaving, he waved Daniella goodbye and smirked at her. Daniella was super thrilled on seeing that, she quickly returned the wave. "Is he happy that he is leaving New Orleans or is his wave a genuine one?" Daniella asked in suspense because her cousins never talked to her but all of a sudden, Ramsey waved his hand to her on leaving.